An
important first step in process and tone, says Archbishop GomezPromises bishops' support for
system to protect human dignity, homeland simultaneouslyPlan gives hope to millions of
fellow human beings

WASHINGTON—Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, chairman of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, welcomed principles set
forth by a group of eight U.S. Senators as a blueprint for reform of our
nation's immigration system.

"I
welcome the introduction of a bipartisan framework to help guide Congress on
immigration reform," Archbishop Gomez said January 28."It is an important first step in the process
and sets a bipartisan tone."

The framework released by the "Group
of Eight" working group would include a path to citizenship for the 11 million
undocumented in the nation. It also would reduce family backlogs in the
immigration system, which requires family members to wait years to reunite with
their loved ones.

"It is vital that the framework includes
a path to citizenship, so that undocumented immigrants can come out of the
shadows and into the light and have a chance to become Americans," Archbishop
Gomez said. "It gives hope to millions of our fellow human beings."

Archbishop
Gomez noted that the framework leaves room for improvement, as it fails to
restore due process protections to immigrants lost in the 1996 Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) or address the
root causes of migration, such as the absence of living-wage employment in
sending communities or protection for refugees fleeing persecution.

Nevertheless,
he pledged the support of the USCCB in pushing sound immigration legislation
forward and working with Congress to create an immigration system which
respects basic human rights and dignity while also ensuring the integrity of
our borders.

"A
reformed system can protect human dignity and the homeland at the same time,"
he concluded.

In their 2003 pastoral letter, "Strangers
No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope," the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB) outlined several policy goals for immigration reform, many of
which are consistent with the framework outlined today by the U.S. Senate:

″A
path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented in the nation;

″The
protection and enhancement of the family-based immigration system, including
the reduction in backlogs and shortening of waiting times for husbands and
wives and their families, ″A
program which allows low-skilled migrant workers to enter and work in the
United States legally and safely and includes appropriate wage and worker
protections;

″The
restoration of due process protections for immigrants removed by the 1996
Illegal Immigrant Responsibility Act; and

″Policies
which address the root causes, or push factors, of irregular migration, such as
the absence of living wage jobs in sending communities and persecution.

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